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‘Decent year’ a good one for Potthoff

BCR Golfer of the Year • Nathan Potthoff (St. Bede)

Shooting a season average of 39 (two strokes off of his average from last year), medalist in three regular season matches, and finished eighth at the Princeton Invitational.

He also placed sixth in the Mendota Ryder Cup, was named to the First Team TRAC All-Conference and qualified for sectional.

Add to Potthoff’s honors being named the BCR 2018 Boys Golfer of the Year.

A decent year, indeed.

“It feels pretty good to get this,” Potthoff said. “I wasn’t expecting it. I started my season off well, but it didn’t go as I planned at the end, still I made sectional.”

St. Bede golf coach Rich Cummings noted, “I think the big step he made was his long irons both in distance and control, and his putting has always been solid. The most important part of his game is the knowledge of the game of golf.”

Helping Potthoff in that knowledge was being born into a family of golfers, including his older brother, St. Bede senior John Potthoff, also a First Team All-BCR selection. His parents, Jack and Lucy Potthoff, and his younger brother also enjoy time on the links.

It doesn’t hurt that Spring Creek is his home course. Literally.

“Yeah, it’s family owned, mostly my dad and my uncle,” Potthoff said. “In the summertime, I help work on the course, the whole family does, and I play almost every day to get better.”

Potthoff appreciates the personal responsibility the game requires.

“If I hit a bad shot, I’ve no one to blame but myself, it’s all up to you. The worst part is when you know how to fix it but keep hitting it bad,” he said with a laugh.

Cummings adds, “He is a young man with a great attitude. Always smiling, never lets anything get to him when he is playing, and truly understands that once you hit the ball, you can do nothing but think about next shot.”

Potthoff, who also plays basketball and tennis for the Bruins, picked up golf at the age of 6. Early interest was fueled by watching Tiger Woods and later Jordan Spieth play the game.

“Driving the ball came easier at first, my short game took a little longer,” he said. “My chipping and putting I still find myself working on the most in the summertime.”

His coach notices the effort being put in.

“Nathan has a great work ethic with everything he does at school,” Cummings said. “He is a great student, in athletics competes and practices hard. If you ever see him or any of the Potthoff boys at Spring Creek, you would know what I mean by a strong work ethic.

“His golf game continues to improve from last to this year, and with two more years to get stronger, his distance and control around the green will continue to improve.”

The Nathan Potthoff File:

• Sectional qualifier

• Area-best 39 average

• 3-time meet medalist

• First Team TRAC All-Conference

[BCR photo/Tommy Rose]

St. Bede sophomore Nathan Potthoff turned what he deemed a "decent year" into BCR Golfer of the Year honors for 2018. The First TRAC All-Conference averaged an area best 39 and qualified for sectional.